Man killed in shooting at party in south Minneapolis

A 21-year-old man died Sunday morning after being shot at a party in south Minneapolis. Police have arrested a suspect.

While the authorities haven't released the victim's name, family members identified the man as Francisco Hernandez, 21.

Shortly after 6:30 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting at an apartment in the 3000 block of Pleasant Av. S. They found Hernandez with a gunshot wound. Emergency personnel were unable to save him.

The shooting is believed to have happened during a party at the apartment. More than 10 adults and several children were in the apartment when police arrived.

Witnesses gave officers the name of another man they said was the shooter. Officers stopped a vehicle at Lake Street and Pillsbury Avenue S. and found the suspect inside, suffering from noncritical stab wounds. Police arrested him, and he was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center.

Police said they weren't immediately sure what led to the shooting and the stabbing and that the investigation was impeded early on by a language barrier.

Hernandez's stepmother, Nicole Corrigan, who was at the scene Sunday afternoon with other family members, said she last saw her stepson on Saturday night, when he was helping family members carve pumpkins before heading to the party.

Just before 8 a.m. on Sunday, Hernandez's family got a call informing them of his death.

"He liked to be with his family," Corrigan said, describing how Hernandez would enjoy playing with his sisters.

He had three young children and another child due in a couple of months, Corrigan said.

"His nickname was 'Joker' because he was always making jokes and getting people to laugh," she said.

Hernandez's aunt, Michelle Cook, said she had dropped him off at the apartment about 11 p.m. Saturday.

He was "just a 21-year-old boy trying to have a good time on the weekend," Cook said.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy.

Nicole Norfleet • 612-673-4495